Surviving, Not Thriving

A clearly wounded and contrite Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) prevailed in his bid to keep his powerful post as speaker of the House. But how effective will he be in the 105th Congress with questions lingering about his conduct and truthfulness?

Before his swearing-in, Gingrich apologized to the House for being too brash and too pushy two years ago when he became the first Republican speaker in 40 years and aggressively advocated the GOP’s “contract with America.”

He also apologized for the controversy he brought on the institution and himself in the form of an unfinished Ethics Committee investigation into his misuse of tax-exempt funds for political purposes in connection with a college course he taught. His new civility will mean more if it translates into productive attention to the business of government.

The uncertainty about his weakened leadership will continue at least until the Ethics Committee action is completed in a few weeks. An IRS probe might follow.

When the vote was taken Tuesday, nine GOP representatives broke ranks and refused to support Gingrich. They included Jim Leach of Iowa, who is chairman of the House Banking Committee and the most prominent Republican to defect, and Californian Tom Campbell (San Jose). The nine were persuaded by Gingrich’s admission that he gave “inaccurate, incomplete and unreliable information” to the committee. In other words, he lied. On this basis the defectors concluded he should not remain leader of the House of Representatives and as such the third in the line of succession to the presidency.

Gingrich has survived, for now. But surviving isn’t the same thing as thriving, and until the ethics inquiry is finished it’s not at all certain that survivor Gingrich has much political life left as speaker.